Environment Education Department Report – April 2005

ATTACHMENT 1 TO REPORT 05.139 PAGE 1 OF 28

Geoff Skene Manager, Environment Education Environment Education Department Report – April 2005

1. Take Action

The Take Action team has been very busy with both the guided and self-guided programmes now in full swing. The team has given a string of performances introducing children to the programme and, with a period of settled weather, has been able to stage a number of successful field trips helping kids explore fresh water in the environment.

1.1 Schools taking action

In term one of 2005, the schools doing the guided programme are Otari School (Wellington), St Francis Xavier School (Tawa), and Totara Park School (Upper Hutt). Having seen the multi-media show and explored their local stream, the children of all three schools are now working on projects to improve their local environment. St Francis Xavier School One of these projects of note is St Francis Xavier School’s desire to reduce their water use and improve their waste disposal. The students are doing a water audit and setting up a recycling scheme. The school board is preparing a plan for the redevelopment of its grounds, to which the students’ ideas for more native plants and the management of the schools’ rubbish will contribute. Otari School The three trails for Otari School took place at Karori Sanctuary and Otari-Wilton’s Bush. With its ongoing development, Karori Sanctuary has now become a useful location for our water trails, with a great deal to see and talk about with the children. Students and staff from all three classes were appreciative of the very rich learning experience. Staff from the Sanctuary contributed to the trails, as did Graham Campbell, our Maori Policy Advisor, when the school’s te reo class attended. We will continue to use the Sanctuary for schools based in Wellington, so long as the weather permits (the Sanctuary does not offer the same protection in bad weather that our other main sites provide).


One of the field trips coincided with the release at the Sanctuary of Hihi (native stitchbirds). It was interesting to note the students’ sheer delight in spotting these special birds on the day they were released on the mainland for the first time in one hundred years.

Otari School has taken an active approach to environmental education for some time and has a number of established projects up and running. The students are highly motivated to Take Action for their environment and are a delight to work with. They are now working on a number of action projects, one of which is a plan to divert water from the school’s roofs to irrigate the grounds. The school is currently looking at the cost and feasibility of this idea. The senior students have begun monitoring the health of the Kaiwharawhara Stream and will undertake a clean up in the area. The te reo class hopes to put bilingual signs along the stream encouraging people to use the rubbish bins in the picnic grounds. Totara Park School The field trips for this school were completed on March 14th. The students have just begun their action projects.

1.2 Self-guided schools

We have presented the multi-media introductory performance to children at the following schools:

• Silverstream School, Upper Hutt; • Birchville School, Upper Hutt; • Oxford Crescent School, Upper Hutt; • Ponatahi Christian School, Carterton; and • Greytown School.

I attended the Silverstream performance, where the show was presented to 140 students. I continue to be impressed by the effectiveness of this presentation. It holds the children’s attention fully for an hour and a half. The students learn a lot from the show, but perhaps more importantly, it clearly excites and enthuses them, as they assist the Action Crew to find and deal to pollution. To our knowledge, there is no other comparable performance for kids in the Wellington region and teachers are very positive about its effectiveness.

These schools are now working through the programme, completing trails and starting work on action projects. It is pleasing to see that four of these schools are doing the programme for a second time. One of our aims with Take Action is to have schools incorporate environmental education into their ongoing teaching. Continuing with Take Action in the self-guided mode is one way by which they can do this.


Other schools that have expressed interest in the programme or sought our help with environmental education lately have been Newtown (where we gave children an introduction to storm water while they stencilled the drains at their school), Mt Cook, Hataitai, and the Wellington Seventh Day Adventist School.

1.3 World Water Day – 22 March

World Water Day is a UN originated event that occurs in March each year. It is intended to focus attention on the importance of water to sustainable development, the alleviation of poverty and hunger, and human health and well-being. This year it was marked in Wellington by the launch of the National Waterways Project’s monitoring database.

The National Waterways Project is funded by the Royal Society and is dedicated to providing schools with the tools to monitor the health of their streams and rivers. It has been in operation for five years. The new database makes it easier for children to record the results of their stream investigations. The database was launched by the Minister for the Environment, Hon. Marian Hobbs at Otari School, with students currently doing Take Action. The information entered in the database came from the student’s investigations on their field trip. The school is going to make its monitoring a monthly event and will continue to add it to the database.

At Clyde Quay School (another of this term’s self guided schools) the Action Crew presented the multi-media show on World Water Day to 120 students. The presentation features interviews with people from countries less fortunate than ours in terms of water supply and quality. The scarcity and value of water is brought home to students, reinforced for this school by the significance of the day on which the show was presented.

2. Take Care

The level of activity amongst care groups has increased markedly over the period. Recent events and activities of the groups include the following:

• At the Manuka Reserve (Masterton), paths through the planted areas have been put in and the number of people walking through has increased markedly. The group has ordered plants for planting later in the year.

• The group working north of the Waitohu Stream has completed a large job fencing the dunes to prevent damage from motor bikes. Their intention this year is to try to educate beach users about the project, while growing plants for planting next year to stabilise the dunes.

• As well as the beach clean up mentioned below, the Waikanae Estuary group has identified an area to work in and worked out the plants needed to restore the dune there. The group is purchasing materials to construct a shade house to propagate and develop their plants.

• At Glenside and Otari, the groups continue their regular weeding sessions. The Otari group has the support of a Global Volunteers group every


Tuesday and the group carries out its own weed removal and plant care each month. Both groups are in their last year of funding and are considering potential new areas for possible future applications to the Take Care fund.

• The Millennium Reserve wetland group has been very active lately, weeding and replanting, and installing a water reticulation system to keep their plants alive.

• The plants put in at the Silverstream Straight wetland by the corporate volunteers from the LTSA last year have survived well and prospered. The community group that looks after this area has been releasing these plants to aid their continued growth.

• The Henley Lake group had a major planting day in February. This group has also faced the problem of keeping its plants wet during the dry summer period.

• At Greendale the plantings from previous years are flourishing. Unfortunately, floods have damaged the stream banks at the entrance to the reserve and taken out some of the trees planted by the group. The group is working on a solution to this problem.

3. Silverstream Care Group

The Silverstream Care Group at Hulls Creek has been running monthly evening meetings over the summer. Group members have an ongoing programme of weed removal, irrigation, and plant care. Approximately 70% of the area originally outlined for restoration by the group has already been planted. With two more planting seasons to go before Greater Wellington’s funding finishes, the group is well on track with their project. The group has recently worked out a plan for the upcoming planting season and identified willow removal as a priority. This would open up the remaining areas for planting. The group will work in with our Flood Protection staff when it comes to the removal of these trees.

In the last year the group has taken major strides towards achieving its goals. Two corporate volunteer days with Schering Plough and LTSA saw the riparian planting increase by 40%. In addition, Hutt City council paid to fence a further 100 metres of Hulls Creek where it crosses its land. Planting is underway in this new area. A further fence was erected to separate the restoration area from the Silverstream railway yards and to provide access to the site, whilst retaining the security of the railway area. The restoration of the river bank at this point will be a significant challenge for the group in the next few years. The group is very committed to achieving their aims and are presently exploring other sources of funding to further their activities. A display about the group can be seen in the Committee Room on the day of the Committee meeting.


4. Seaweek

The annual celebration of New Zealand’s marine environment, Seaweek, was held from the 5th to the 12th of March. Seaweek is sponsored and organised by the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education, the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Fisheries. Over 100 events were held around the country, centred on the theme of the interconnectedness of people and marine ecosystems.

Two of our care groups participated in or organised events for Seaweek. At Eastbourne, the Dune Protection Group spent Saturday the 5th removing marram grass and other weeds from the beach. On Sunday 13th one of our care groups worked to clean-up the scientific reserve and beachfront on the Waikanae estuary. The Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve Care Group, which joined the Take Care programme this year, used the event to promote its activities and advertise for new members.

5. Corporate Volunteers Programme

Around 70 staff from the Environmental Risk Management Agency removed weeds and planted native grasses on the Eastbourne Beach on March 4th. The event was very successful, and is the second time that ERMA has taken part in the Corporate Volunteers Programme. The group removed a large amount of marram grass from the gravel beach, assisting the Eastbourne Care Group. The group has been active for about four years and has been assisted by the Hutt City Council to clear and replant a long strip of the shoreline.

There has been considerable interest in this programme of late with at least five new organisations lining up to take part.


Nicola Shorten Manager, Resource Policy

Resource Policy Department Report – March 2005

1. Maintaining Regional Policies and Plans

1.1 Regional Plan Changes

There has been no change to the status of outstanding appeals on the proposed changes to the Regional Freshwater Plan.

A pre-hearing meeting was held on the plan change to include minimum flows and allocation for the Mangaterere Catchment in the Regional Freshwater Plan. All five submitters attended the meeting. We have agreed to gather further information on flows in the tributaries of the Mangaterere River. The studies have now been completed and we are compiling the information. We will be reporting back to submitters during April.

2. Regional Policy Statement and Plan Implementation

2.1 Water Programme of Action

Greater Wellington’s submission on the discussion paper Freshwater for a sustainable future: Issues and options was placed in the Councillors’ Bulletin for information. Key points were:

• The “national interest” must be identified in far more detail and with far greater clarity than is currently provided. While the paper states that nationally important values need to be better addressed, the discussion reveals that these values have not yet been identified.

• Greater central government resources are needed to target the adverse effects of diffuse discharges on water quality – this is a water management issue that all regional councils are finding extremely difficult to address.

• The focus on water allocation should be reduced. Most regional councils are managing water allocation effectively and, while there are issues that still have to be resolved; these can, and are, being addressed through existing mechanisms.


The submission also suggests that the Water Programme of Action should give priority to the following actions:

• provision of national guidelines that will assist regional councils; • greater input to regional plans using the submission process; • support and co-ordination of good practice; • support and promotion of non-statutory integrated catchment management

planning; • funding of science that will assist management by regional councils; • provision of resources for co-ordinated education programmes; and • funding for the development of infrastructure.

2.2 Marine Biodiversity

The Cawthron Institute have been contracted to undertake a survey of the beaches and river estuaries of the Kapiti and Porirua coasts in April/May of this year. The study continues the work that was done in the Wellington Harbour and South Coast in April 2004. The survey will collect information on river estuaries and sandy beaches to provide a picture of the health of the intertidal habitats which can be used for planning, resource consents, pollution and state of the environment monitoring.

Information will be collected on beach and estuarine substrates, grain sizes, epifauna, infauna and macroalgae, and selected samples will be taken to assess for total nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals.

2.3 Wetlands

Draft wetland hydrology guidelines have been completed and are currently being reviewed by the Department of Conservation. This document is a simple introduction to wetland hydrology for people wanting to restore wetlands and it provides information about how to establish a more natural wetland regime in wetlands that have been affected by human activity. When completed, the document will compliment the information that we have provided on wetland ecology. The document is being part funded by the Department of Conservation Biodiversity Advice Fund.

2.4 District Plans

Statutory resource management work is the subject of a separate report to the Committee. In addition to this work, staff have spent considerable time this month providing advice to be included in the submission on the draft combined Wairarapa District Plan.


2.5 Kaiwharawhara Project

In partnership with Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington commissioned a report on the “Priorities for Ecological Restoration of the Kaiwharawhara Catchment”. The report was made available early this year to both councils, and the numerous community groups working in the catchment. A meeting to discuss the report and identify priority projects for the coming year was held in mid-March, with around 30 representatives from the different groups attending.

A specific project soon to commence is the enhancement of School Road in the industrial area near the bottom of the catchment. Drawings have been prepared for planting and hard landscaping, with contracts for the work expected to be put out by early April and work commencing during the forthcoming planting season. This area is one of the seven sites for the voluntary water quality monitoring programme, and the task at the School Road site will be made slightly easier by a set of steps that will allow easier access to the stream.

3. State of the Environment report update

The teams working on the State of the Environment technical reports are all at various stages in compiling their information. The process of reviewing data collected over the last ten years has revealed some problems with our databases, in particular the Consents and Compliance database, and the considerable time pressures on technical staff. The analysis of our freshwater quality data, for example, had to be contracted out to Massey University. Writing technical reports is also competing with work required for the Regional Strategy.

Alongside the collection and collation of technical data, staff have met with all territorial authorities to see what information they can provide about the achievement of Regional Policy Statement objectives. For example, how their district plans deal with flood hazard areas. Territorial authorities appreciate the need to work with Greater Wellington on the information presented in the State the Environment report because of its influence on the RPS review that will be following in early 2005.

3.1 Heritage

Towards the end of last year, Greater Wellington facilitated a meeting between all of the territorial authorities in the Region and the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA). The NZAA would like to upgrade and update their database, which will, in turn, better inform district and regional plans that have rules relating to archaeological sites.

Following the meeting and subsequent negotiations, all territorial authorities, the Department of Conservation and Greater Wellington have agreed to support the work. The work will span the next 18 months, and will begin in the western part of the region (Kapiti Coast and Porirua), to be followed progressively by the Wairarapa and Wellington/Hutt Valley. The project is an excellent example of collaboration and cost sharing for mutual benefits.


4. Other

3.2 Legislative Update

Councillor Turver and I attended the Select Committee hearing on the Resource Management and Electricity Legislation Amendment Bill. The Local Government and Environment Select Committee were hearing submissions in a forum format, and we were heard jointly with the Wellington City Council and the Nelson City Council.

3.3 Hazards

Staff have visited each of the territorial authorities in the Region as part of the process of developing a work programme for hazards for the new few years, and to introduce our new Hazard Analyst, Helen Grant. A range of possible joint projects were discussed.

ATTACHMENT 1 TO REPORT 03.139 PAGE 10 of 28

John Sherriff Manager, Resource Investigations Resource Investigations Department Report – April 2005

1. Resource Information

1.1 Flood warning

The Resource Investigations Department provides a flood warning and monitoring service for the western part of the Wellington Region. Rainfall and river level recorders around the Region automatically relay information to the Regional Council Centre. When specified rainfall intensities or river levels are reached the system automatically alerts staff who implement response procedures.

Details of alarms received are provided to the Committee to fulfil reporting requirements set out in the Annual Plan.

Since the last meeting of the Committee the following rainfall and water level alarms were received and responded to:

14 February 2005 Rainfall: Horokiri. 7 March 2005 Rainfall: Horokiri, Orongorongo Swamp,

cemetery, Te Marua, Kaitoke, Kapakapanui. 16 March 2005 Rainfall: Centre Ridge.

2. Resource analysis

2.1 Groundwater levels

The Department monitors groundwater levels at 46 sites around the western Region. We use two of these bores, McEwan Park at Petone and Hautere Plain on the Kapiti Coast as general indicators of the state of groundwater resources in these areas. Records from these two bores and a synopsis of the situation are provided to the Committee at each meeting.

2.1.1 Lower Hutt groundwater zone – Upper Waiwhetu artesian aquifer

Aquifer pressure at our McEwan Park monitoring bore is currently just above the long-term average value and well above the first seawater intrusion alarm level. The aquifer pressure rose to very high levels in January in response to the abundant rainfall that raised the level of the Hutt River. Pumping by the Utility Services Division caused the short-term decline in level during February.


Upper Waiwhetu Artesian Aquifer at McEwan Park

1/1/2004 1/5/2004 1/9/2004 1/1/2005

Gro

und

wat

er p

ress

ure

(mm

am

sl)

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

Warning levelCritical level

Minimum level

Range of mean daily values (1985 to 2004)Long-term mean daily value (1985 to 2004)Actual daily mean values

2.1.2 Kapiti Coast

Kapiti aquifers have also benefited from the above average January rainfall and groundwater levels are high for this time of year. The hydrograph below shows the shallow groundwater level at the driving range on Kapiti Road, Paraparaumu. Although the water table is undergoing its usual summer decline, it is still well above the low level reached in mid 2001.


Paraparaumu Shallow Groundwater Level at Golftech

1/10/2000 1/10/2001 1/10/2002 1/10/2003 1/10/2004

Gro

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wat

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mm

amsl

)

3800

4000

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4600

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5200

5400

2.2 Rainfall and river flows

February 2005 was a dry month, and one of the warmest on record in the Wellington region. The settled weather was caused by frequent anticyclones lying to the east of New Zealand. The map below shows that rainfall was below the average for February throughout the region. The Kapiti coast, Hutt Valley and much of the Wairarapa received only about one-third of the average rainfall for February, while Wellington and Porirua received around one-half to two-thirds of average rainfall. The Tararua ranges weren’t quite as dry, but still received less than average rainfall for the month.

Although rainfall totals were below average for the month, it was not an extremely dry February compared to others on record. River flows became low but generally did not drop below usual levels for the time of the year. Restrictions were activated on many resource consents to take water, but in general the rivers remained above the minimum flows specified in the Regional Freshwater Plan.


Although the weather has not been as settled during March 2005 as during February, rainfall has similarly been below average (to date) for the time of the year, and river flows are about the lowest they have reached so far this year. However, as temperatures are dropping the demand for water is declining.

2.3 Air quality monitoring

2.3.1 Ambient air quality monitoring

We currently monitor ambient air quality at three sites in Lower Hutt (Birch Street Reserve), Upper Hutt (Trentham Fire Station) and Masterton (Wairarapa College). The effects of transport emissions are monitored at the corner of Vivian and Victoria Streets. We also monitor carbon monoxide emissions at Te Aro.

The graphs below represent air quality at the location indicated when the monitoring results are compared to ambient air quality guidelines. The assessment categories are as follows:

Category Maximum Measured Value Comment Action Exceeds Guideline Completely unacceptable by

national and international standards. Alert Between 66% and 100% of the

guideline A warning level which can lead to guidelines being exceeded if trends are not curbed.

Acceptable Between 33% and 66% of the guideline

A broad category, where maximum values might be of concern in some sensitive locations, but are generally at a level that does not warrant dramatic action.

Good Between 10% and 33% of the guideline

Peak measurements in this range are unlikely to affect air quality.

Excellent Less than 10% of the guideline Of little concern.


Councillors will be aware that our Take 10 - Quality of Life target for air quality is that there will be no recorded instances when air pollution reaches the "alert" level of the national air quality guidelines.

Results for the past two months at Upper Hutt

Results for the past two months at Lower Hutt

Results for the past two months at Masterton

24-Hour Average NO2 at Masterton

Good3%

Excellent97%

8-Hour Average CO at Masterton

Excellent100%

24-Hour Average PM10 at Masterton

Acceptable24%

Good76%

24-Hour Average PM10 at Lower Hutt

Acceptable35%Good

65%

24-Hour Average NO2 at Lower Hutt

Good22%

Excellent78%

8-Hour Average CO at Lower Hutt

Excellent100%

24-Hour Average NO2 at Upper Hutt

Excellent94%

Good6%

8-Hour Average CO at Upper Hutt

Excellent100%

24-Hour Average PM10 at Upper Hutt

Excellent1%

Good99%


Results for the past two months at Corner Victoria & Vivian Streets

Results for the past two months at Te Aro

2.4 Stormwater

Staff have received and are reviewing a draft issues and options paper on stormwater management. This is a precursor to the development of the regional action plan for stormwater management. When this is finalised it will be released for comment by territorial authorities and other affected parties.

On March 15 Councillor Shields and I gave a presentation to the Environment and Regulation Committee of Porirua City Council on the findings of investigation into marine sediment quality.

2.5 Contaminated sites management

We received funding from the Ministry for the Environment to investigate the on-going effects at the Bentley Street gasworks site in Masterton. This work is being undertaken in conjunction with Masterton District Council. Contracts for this work are currently being finalised and we expect the investigation to be completed and reported on by mid June.

8-Hour Average CO at Corner Vic

Good31%

Excellent69%

24-Hour Average PM10 at Corner Vic

Acceptable38%

Good60%

Excellent2%

8-Hour Average CO at Te Aro

Excellent100%


3. Pollution Control

3.1 Pollution and non-compliance complaints

A summary of pollution complaints, our performance in responding to them and enforcement action taken is reported separately.

4. Staff

Rod Hart has joined the Pollution Control team replacing Rita O’Brien. Rod has recently worked as a compliance officer with Wellington City Council and an enforcement officer with the Ministry of Fisheries. Prior to that he had a twenty year career in the New Zealand Army.

ATTACHMENT 4 TO RPORT 05.139 PAGE 17 OF 28

Nigel Corry Manager, Consents Management Consents Management Department Report – April 2005

1. Consent statistics

In the period to 18 March 2005 we have received 344 consent applications. This compares with 459 received for the same period last year.

In the period to 18 March 2005 we have processed 273 consents. This compares with 408 processed over same period last year.

Since the last Committee meeting we have had one consent processed outside of our 20 day statutory timeframe. The consent was processed in 21 days due to some confusion over the interpretation of “working days” in the RMA. We have amended our processes to ensure that this does not occur again. On a more positive front, the median processing time for non-notified consents is back to 10 working days.

A summary of the notified consents we are currently processing is attached.

2. Appeals and objections

There are no appeals or objections outstanding at present.

3. Compliance

3.1 General

We are continuing our proactive odour monitoring approach in the Careys Gully area. While complaint numbers have been increasing, and we have had some instances where odour has been detected while we have been proactively monitoring, none of these events have resulted in a breach of consent. We have also participated in a meeting of the Southern Landfill Community Liaison Group, and have sent a detailed letter to over 140 people on our mailing list (taken from our incident database) updating them on progress with the Carey’s Gully odour issues. This letter placed particular emphasis on work that Wellington City Council are undertaking, such as dispersion modelling and tree planting programmes, to minimise odour coming from the site. Judging from the phone calls we have has since this time, it appears that people have appreciated the information update, even if frustrations continue to exist with odour from the site.

ATTACHMENT 4 TO RPORT 05.139 PAGE 18 of 28

3.2 Abatement notices

We have not issued any abatement notices since the last Committee meeting.

3.3 Infringement notices

We have issued one infringement notice since the last meeting. This was for the uncontained discharge of effluent from a travelling irrigator. Payment of the notice was received on site at the same time notice was served.

3.4 Prosecution and enforcement orders

There are not currently any prosecution or enforcement order proceedings occurring.

4. Other

4.1 Taylor Preston Limited

Committee members will be aware that the Gorge Action Group (GAG) sent an email to all Councillors on 14 March in response to an odour incident on 3 February 2005, and more specifically, GW’s perceived inaction on this issue. While GW officers responded to odour complaints on the 3rd, we did not confirm a breach of condition at any stage. However, it appears that there was clearly an issue for a number of people on the night of the 3rd and we continue to work with Taylor Preston to determine whether or not there was a specific cause for this incident. In the meantime, Taylor Preston have started an odour masking trial at the rendering plant, are trialling a chemical odour suppressant in the truck wash, and have also commenced a programme of spraying the sheep yards with a masking agent.

We are in the process of replying to GAG’s concerns (Councillors will be provided with a copy of this letter for information), and continue to have ongoing dialogue with both GAG and Taylor Preston Limited.

4.2 Exide Technologies Limited

We are intending to undertake a formal section 128 review of the Exide Technologies Limited discharge to air permit. Exide have a discharge to air permit associated with a lead recycling facility in Petone, which has associated monitoring and plant upgrade conditions. The primary purpose of the review is to reduce the levels of fugitive emissions that are currently coming from the plant. We have had a useful meeting with Exide representatives and their lawyer, and it appears at this stage that GW and Exide will be able to work cooperatively to get the best outcome from the review. We have until 11 April 2005 to initiate the review.

4.3 Staff issues

Natasha Tod started with the Department on 30 March as a Senior Resource Advisor. Natasha has over six years experience in both the West Coast and Hawke’s Bay as a consents officer, and we are very pleased to have her with

ATTACHMENT 4 TO RPORT 05.139 PAGE 19 OF 28

us. I am also pleased to be able to report that we have managed to arrange a job share between Tamsin Mitchell and Miranda Robinson who will each work 20 hours per week as from 2 May. Both Miranda and Tamsin have considerable experience with the Department and I am very confident that having them board will enhance our overall capability.


Applicant Proposal Date

Consent Lodged

Date Submissions Closed

Number of Submissions Received

Pre-hearing Held

Hearing Held Hearing Committee Members

Date Decision Released

Granted or Declined

Wellington City Council Change of consent monitoring conditions for the Moa Point Pump Station.

02/11/00 08/12/00 2 On hold for further information in relation to monitoring requirements.

Wharfe Quarry1 To undertake a quarrying operation, including discharge of stormwater, dam and diversion of water, taking of water and piping a watercourse.

06/11/03 04/02/04 57 plus 2 late - Hearing not yet scheduled - on hold under s92 and s91 of the RMA 1991.

Silverwood Subdivision2 To undertake a 162 lot residential subdivision and associated earthworks, discharges and reclamation.

07/05/04 03/11/04 17 - 28 February - 1 March. Adjourned until 13 April.

Chris Turver Sally Baber Aka Arthur

Ridvan Garden Development 3

To lay culverts and discharge contaminated stormwater as part of a residential subdivision development in Crofton Downs.

23/12/04 25/02/05 51 - TBC – but in early May.

Chris Turver Sally Baber Aka Arthur

RJM Properties To discharge contaminants to air from the operation of a composting plant, Seaview.

09/12/04 23/03/05 - -

Wellington Waterfront Ltd To develop open space areas, divert groundwater and daylight the Kumutoto Stream, North Queens Wharf.

16/03/05

1 This application will be jointly heard with Porirua City Council 2This application will be jointly heard with Porirua City Council 3This application will be jointly heard with Wellington City Council


Applicant Proposal Date Consent Lodged

Date Submissions Closed

Number of Submissions Received

Pre-hearing Held

Hearing Held Hearing Committee Members

Date Decision Released

Granted or Declined

Wellington Waterfront Ltd Extend the existing lagoon and undertake associated development of the existing Frank Kitts lagoon area.

16/03/05


Mike Pryce Manager, Harbours Harbours Department Report – March 2005

1. Harbour navigation aids

• Permanent cardinal marker buoys were placed near the submerged reef at Oriental Bay to replace previous temporary markers.

• Contractors completed the repairs and repainting of the Front Lead tower and supporting structure.

• The old emergency back-up red light at Point Jerningham was replaced with a new LED (light-emitting diode) light. Batteries and charging system were also replaced.

• Buoys to mark the 5 knot speed limit and the ski-lane were placed in Days Bay.

2. Oil pollution response

• Five reports of oil spills were received and investigated. One (on 8 March) was into a stream and duck pond at the Botanical Gardens, and technically not a “marine oil spill”, but the harbours team assisted with clean-up action.

• Paul Denton and Bruce Croucher attended a Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Team course organised by the MSA in Auckland on 21-23 February 2005.

• On 1 March a portable dispersant spray-boom exercise was held in co-operation with CentrePort, using one of the port tugs.

• Mike Jensen and Thane Walls attended the Field Operations Course organised by the MSA in Taranaki on 15 -17 March 2005

3. Events

• Port and Harbour Risk Assessment The Department commenced work on 18 February with Marico Marine and CentrePort to produce the Wellington Harbour Risk Assessment

• Army Divers Training


From 27 February N.Z. Army engineers from Linton Camp conducted diver training exercises in Wellington Harbour for about two weeks. Amongst the useful exercises carried out, was a search for submerged logs off Aotea Quay, recovery of an old car from the seabed off Queens Wharf, partial recovery of disused submarine power cable between the Eastbourne shoreline and the leading lights, and relocation of some disused mooring blocks from Evans Bay.

4. On-water events

• On 21-24 February, International Youth match racing sailing competitions were held in Lambton Harbour. The Harbours department assisted with advice and liaised between organisers and commercial shipping using Lambton Harbour.

• On 24-27 February, “420 Asia Pacific Championship” and “470 National

Championship” yacht races were held in Evans Bay.

• On 24-27 February, Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club “Line 7 Regatta” was held on Wellington Harbour. The Harbours department vessel Seacare attended both the above events, with a Marico risk assessment consultant on board, for observation of interaction between competitors and commercial shipping.

• On 5 March the “Offshore Power Boat Race” was held in Lambton

Harbour and Evans Bay. The Harbours department vessel Seacare assisted by patrolling the Lambton Harbour area. Bylaws relating to speed were temporarily suspended and the area reserved.

• On 5 March the Somes Island to Petone swim was held. The Harbours

department vessel Seacare assisted as an escort vessel.

• On 5-6 March the annual Dragon Boat festival was held between Queens and Taranaki Street wharves.

• On 6 March “Paddle Craft Series, King of the Harbour 20km Race” was

held. Harbours department vessel Seacare assisted as escort vessel in trying weather conditions. Two kayaks and paddlers were retrieved from Shelley Bay and transported to Scorching Bay (start/finish point).

• On 6 March the Titahi Bay Boating Club annual regatta was held. The

Harbours department assisted prior to the event by liaising with other regular harbour (Porirua) users to organise the removal of temporary markers, allowing for more room on the harbour for the regatta competitors.

• On 19-20 March the North Island water-ski championships were held in

Evans Bay. The Harbours department facilitated liaison between event organisers and other harbour user groups. Bylaws relating to speed were temporarily suspended and the area reserved.


Rian van Schalkwyk Manager, Emergency Management Emergency Management Department Report – April 2005

1. Civil Defence Emergency Management Group

1.1 CDEM Group appointments

At its meeting of 18 March 2005 the Co-ordinating Executive Group (CEG) approved the appointment of CDEM Group Controller, Alternate Group Controllers, Group Recovery Manager and Alternate Group Recovery Manager.

The Group Controller is Dr Wayne Hastie with Colin Wright, John Allard and Rian van Schalkwyk as his alternates.

Dr Jane Bradbury was appointed the Group Recovery Manager with Barry Leonard as her alternate.

These appointments will be included in the CDEM Group Plan and ratified by the CDEM Group as part of the Plan approval process.

1.2 CDEM Group Plan Progress

The final CDEM Group Plan was tabled for consideration by the CEG meeting of 18 March. It was then submitted to the Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management on 22 March 2005 for Ministerial review. Final approval of the Plan will be sought from the CDEM Group on 5 May 2005. It is envisaged that the Group Plan will become effective on 13 May 2005.

1.3 CDEM Training for Group Emergency Operations Centre (GEOC)

Radio communications training for the 30+ volunteer staff took place on 25 February. The training included a theoretical session where staff received information about the regional radio network, radio procedures, setting up of the communications centre and the receiving, processing and distributing of emergency management information by means of radio equipment. A practical session followed where some staff manned the communications centre giving specific tasks to perform to other staff outside the building via the radio network.

Further and more specialised training is scheduled to take place during the year.


1.4 CDEM Group Work programme

Work has progressed on the current work programme of emergency water supply, emergency communications, emergency fuel, urban search and rescue, commuter management, supply of external resources, regional reconnaissance, sewerage disposal and medical logistics. Information documents have been prepared for each.

Work has also begun on the review of local CDEM operating procedures and the information from the current work programme will now feed into these operating procedures. The operating procedures need to be finalised by 30 June 2005.

2. Marketing and Communications

2.1 Emergency Preparedness

The Manager, Emergency Management has been invited by Isola Productions (TV company in Auckland) to take part in a Civil Defence documentary about emergency management in New Zealand. He also took part in a live studio discussion at TVNZ in Auckland on 12 March.

A huge effort has been put into producing this documentary which covers a volcano eruption in Auckland, flooding in Canterbury and a major earthquake in Wellington. Very realistic incidents have been included with several New Zealand actors performing excellent role plays. The main theme throughout is ‘community preparedness’.

The documentary is going to be a fantastic medium to get the ‘message’ out to all our communities and it would also be a great training tool for the future.

The two-hour documentary will be broadcasted by TV1 on Sunday, 10 April 2005 at 7:30pm.

2.2 Emergency Planning Guide

Markat Promotions of Christchurch has offered to produce another booklet for our region by September 2005.

The emergency managers of the Region are in the process of reviewing the material to ensure that relevant and updated information is provided to the public.

It is anticipated to have the booklet ready for distribution in the first week of October (to coincide with the International Hazard Awareness week).

3. Environment

3.1 Earthquake Reports:


Since preparing the last report for the Environment Committee, 31 reports of earthquakes bigger than 3 on the Richter Scale were received from GNS.

Three earthquakes were felt in the Wellington Region: Mar 22 2005 Magnitude: 4.1 Depth: 30 km 10 km west of Eketahuna Mar 01 2005 Magnitude: 4.1 Depth: 50 km 30 km north-west of Porirua Feb 18 2005 Magnitude: 3.6 Depth: 30 km 10 km west of Castlepoint

3.2 Special Weather Bulletins

Two Special Weather Bulletins (both for strong wind) were received since the last Committee meeting. The relevant agencies were notified and no problems were experienced.

3.3 Communications

Weekly tests of the radio communications network are being carried out. The system is functioning well and no problems have been experienced.

We have obtained the service of a radio/satellite specialist to produce the necessary outcome based specifications for the VSAT remote terminals. These include satellite link budget calculations to ascertain dish design and reliability of service, site and antenna pointing information, terminal features, installation features, test instrumentation, system acceptance test information, documentation and training specifications.


Richard Waddy Divisional Accountant Financial Position: 28 February 2005

1. Operating Results

We are pleased to report the operating results for the period ended 28 February 2005.

Environment Division

Summary Income Statement For the Period Ended 28 February 2005

Year to Date Full Year Actual

$000s Budget $000s

Variance $000s

Budget $000s

Rates 5,466 5,466 -- 8,199 Other Revenue 1,282 1,352 70 U 2,113 Total Revenue 6,748 6,818 70 U 10,312 Less: Direct Expenditure 5,434 5,833 399 F 9,017 Indirect Expenditure 861 885 24 F 1,354 Total Operating Expenditure

6,295 6,718 423 F 10,371

Operating Surplus (Deficit) 453 100 353 F (59)

2. Surplus The Division’s finances are satisfactory. For the period an operating surplus of $453,000 was recorded, which is above our budget for the corresponding period. The budget provides for an operating surplus of $100,000.

The result translates to a net favourable variance of $353,000, comprising reduced revenue of $70,000, and offset, to an extent, by lower than expected expenditure of $423,000.


3. Revenue Total Revenue at $6,748,000 is some $70,000 short of our budget target of $6,818,000. The shortfall has been caused by a lower number of notified consents processed in the first half of the year than budgeted and a one-off feature – the remit of costs for a notified consent. In addition, changes to the internal arrangements for the after-hours message service have resulted in a loss of revenue. Previously Beacon Hill staff provided the service.

However, we received $52,000 from the Department of Conservation towards our biodiversity initiatives for landowner assistance, which has buoyed the revenue line. This contribution was not included in our budget.

4. Total Expenditure

The Division’s total expenditure at $6,295,000 is some $423,000 less than our budget.

The main reasons for this variance are:

• Personnel costs are now slightly under budget by $41,000. Staff movements have more than offset any resultant recruitment costs.

• Consultant costs were less than budget by $221,000.

The take–up of the funding for the iwi projects is lower ($98,000) than anticipated in our budgets. We expect that this trend will continue with the budget underspent by about this amount for the full year.

In addition, QE11 National Trust work is behind ($70,000). Although funds have been allocated, farmer reimbursement claims (via the QE11 National Trust) are yet to affect our finances significantly.

Some projects, although commenced, are yet to affect our finances. These include a risk assessment of Wellington harbour, a marine biodiversity study of Kapiti, Porirua, and Wellington beaches, and a study of the contaminated site of the former Masterton gas works.

• Internal charges were under budget by $72,000. Most of the underspend arises because of the changes to the after-hours answering service previously provided by Beacon Hill staff and work yet to be undertaken by the Landcare Division.

5. Capital Expenditure At the close of the period our capital expenditure programme has been overspent by some $137,000.

The “overspend” is with the new air quality stations, which at this stage are ahead of schedule. However, the amount spent, to date, on these stations is well within the budget allocated.

Documents

Environment Education Department Report – April 2005